Chapter 38

(Gale POV)

"What does it mean that she got access to full victim's rights?" I frantically ask the peacekeeper as we board the train. The whole walk here all I can think about is the horrified look in Madge's eyes as they lead her away. Clearly she knows what victim's rights are and she isn't interested in receiving them.

He looks at me as if I'm an idiot. As if I'm supposed to know.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I'm new to all of this. I'm only an intern." I explain, playing the only card I have at the moment, hoping that if I mention my job, he'll take me seriously enough to answer me.

"You're an intern?" He pauses, looking at me intently.

"Yes, for the Mayor of District 12."

"My apologies, I wasn't aware. This way." He apologies and then leads us to a different part of the train. The part that has a door marked for staff only. I have no idea where he's taking me but I don't ask. I'll take whatever answers he can offer me right now.

He leads me to a room where a handful of other peacekeepers sit, watching various small television screens. I glance sideways at them, curious what it is they're watching. Some of them are watching the games. Others seem to be looking at different parts of the Capitol or other districts.

"Sign in as a visitor." He tells me as he hands me a clipboard. I scribble my name and district and job title as the form on the clipboard indicates I am supposed to. I guess only official people are allowed in here.

He takes me over to one of the screens and taps in several codes. "There won't be any sound but at least this way you'll be able to see our justice system at work." He tells me.

In a few seconds the blank screen flickers and then a tiny room with several peacekeepers appears on it. The room has a large metal chair in the center of it and a counter holding a tray with several tool looking things on it. I notice the chair has leather straps on it right about the time I see Marcus being led into the room. Madge right behind him. And then it hits me. I'm about to watch Marcus become an avox! Oh my God, is this what victim's rights are? Is this where they took Madge? They're going to have her watch his tongue be cut out? No wonder she looked like she did! Oh no, oh, oh no! I fight to keep my face blank, knowing that in the present company, I can't show a true reaction.

Madge looks positively green. I'm incredibly worried she's going to puke. Or pass out. She's holding tightly to the counter on the wall behind her. The room is so small though that she's mere feet from Marcus.

I watch as they shove Marcus into the chair and hold him back as they secure the leather straps over his lap and arms. He's fighting it. Fighting them. So much so that it takes 3 of them to get him situated properly into the chair. I don't fail to notice that in the process he takes a punch or two to the face. And even once he's restrained in the chair, he's still fighting, though it's clearly futile. It's gotta be a natural human instinct though. To fight back like that? Has to be. I can't imagine sitting there and being cooperative, knowing what's about to happen. Madge is leaning back on the counter still. I can tell she's trying to keep her composure. I can see her taking deep, slow breaths in and out. Please look away Madge, I plead. Just don't watch. Look over his head if you have too. Look at the floor. Look anywhere but at his mouth.

"So you've never seen one before?" The peacekeeper asks me. I look over at him. He looks so at ease that I know it means he's watched this very thing happen multiple times. Probably more than I'd want to imagine.

I clear my throat. "No. I'm new in my position. This is my first trip to the Capitol."

"They all fight like that. So stupid." He almost laughs as he shakes his head.

I can't even think of an appropriate response so I just let out a muffled "Huh." and quickly look back at the screen.

"Do they numb it first or something?" I ask as I see the Peacekeeper holding a blade in his gloved hand while another one forces Marcus's mouth open. He's struggling so much that they bring over some sort of contraption that goes on his head and holds his mouth wide open. Or maybe they use this head piece on everyone. I don't know.

Now the peacekeeper next to me actually laughs. "We would never waste money on medicine to numb the convicts. What do we care if they feel any pain or not?" Several others in the room smirk at this as well.

No numbing medicine? Seriously? He's going to feel all of it? He'll be screaming his freaking head off! Madge is going to have to watch and also hear him screaming in pain as they chop off his tongue? It's like they're punishing her too but they think they're rewarding her somehow. Madge wipes her eyes. She's officially crying now. She may very well have reason to hate Marcus but I know she'd never want to witness this happening to him.

I'm debating on if I should look away or not when they actually go to make the cut. I don't really want to watch but I'm in here and I know they'll see it as opposition or weakness if I leave now or look away. I opt to shift my gaze to just above the screen. Not so much that they could notice but enough so that I'm not really seeing all of it as it happens. I pray that Madge is able to do the same. Without looking, I can still tell when the cut happens because of the way the peacekeeper next to me nudges my shoulder.

"What'd you think?" He ask.

I shift my eyes back down to the screen. Just in time to see Madge puke all over the floor. There's a splatter of blood across her dress. Oh God, his blood is on her dress!

"Messy." Is all I manage to get out, afraid if I talk too much I'll say the wrong thing.

Several peacekeepers around me laugh.

"Often is, kid. Welcome to the business." The one next to me jokes as he slaps me on the back.

Welcome to the business? I cannot be a part of this...this torture. This is most definitely not my world, not my business. I've gotta get out of here. I look back at the screen and see that Madge is no longer in the room with Marcus so she must be on her way back here. One of the peacekeepers is holding something against Marcus's tongue. Or well, against what's left of it. Marcus's eyes are closed. I assume he's passed out from the pain.

"They're just cauterizing the nub now. Keep him from bleeding out."

"Where does he go to after this? Where does he serve?" I ask, suddenly worried they'll do something completely outrageous like make him serve Madge on the train back home or something.

"He'll start serving tomorrow. They'll just use him where ever they need him." He shrugs.

"Thanks for bringing me in here." I tell him in my most professional sounding tone.

I walk back to my room feeling sick to my stomach. I check Madge's room first but she isn't there. Not back yet. I don't know where she'll go first. My room or hers. I go to mine but leave my door cracked open so she'll know to come in here. I go into the bathroom and turn on the cold water tap, splashing it on my face.

I hear the door across the hall shut and I run over to see if it's Madge. I open her door without knocking and find her in her bathroom, ripping her dress off, sobbing hysterically.

"Hey, hey, come here. You're okay, come here." I tell her as I go to pull her into my arms. I expect her to fall into them, expect her to let me console her and try to comfort her. She doesn't though. She isn't even looking at me. She pulls away from my arm and turns on the sink.

I stare for a second, stunned. She's scrubbing the front of her dress furiously under the water. The water runs pink as Marcus's blood rinses from the fabric. She's trying to get the stain out. But why? Why does she care about this dress? But it isn't really about the dress. Its about what just happened. What she just had to endure watching. The dress is just where she's focused at the moment as she's completely fallen apart. She's splashing water everywhere and the stain is only somewhat coming out.

"Madge, stop. Forget about the dress." I say softly, reaching my fingers out to gently touch her arm.

"It's all over it. I have to get it out." She tells me through tears as she continues to scrub.

"We can throw it out. Or send it out to be cleaned. You don't have to do it."

She stops scrubbing and collapses in a heap on the floor. I reach over and turn off the tap and then sit down on the floor by her. I pull her into my lap and she's like a rag doll against me as her head falls to my shoulder.

"Shhhh." I whisper, rubbing her back as she cries. "Don't cry."

She doesn't stop though. Not for the next hour. I hold her the whole time, trying my best to calm her down. When she finally stops crying, she still doesn't sit up. She just stays with her head on my shoulder, sniffling. When I feel her start to shiver, I know we need to get her cleaned up and into bed.

"Hey, let's get you in the shower. You'll feel better after." I say as I stand us up.

I turn on the shower and once it's steaming, I help her into it. Once she's in there, I use the time to get the dress the hell out of here. I can't risk her seeing it again and falling to pieces like that again. I ball up the sopping wet, blood stained mess and go out into the hall. I see an avox and though I cringe as I no longer have to imagine what they've been through, I still need their help.

"Can you take this away? Throw it out?"

The girl takes it and nods as she turns to leave.

"Wait! And can you bring some hot tea? But to my room, not Miss Undersee's? Just leave it on the table please."

I don't want Madge to have to see an avox right now but some tea might help soothe her. When Madge gets out of the shower, I'll bring her to my room and she can sleep there tonight. If I can get her to sleep. Which based on her current state, isn't likely. Either way, I'm just glad I'm able to e here for her. I can't imagine her going through this alone.